Reflector oven



Feb. 27, 1951 F. F. LINDSTAEDT REFLECTOR OVEN 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 1947 Feb. 27, 1951 F. F. LINDSTAEDT REFLECTOR OVEN 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 1947 I N V EN TOR. Hunk flihdsfaedf Patenteoi Feb. 27, 1951 swirls srs lCE ATENT n (llamas.

The present invention relates to improvements in a reflector oven, and its principal object is to provide an oven of the character described that is particu- ..y useful around the campfire, may be readily collapsed into a small space for storage and transportation and may be set up ready for use in a few seconds.

More particularly it is proposed to provide a reflector oven co lprising a shelf and a pair of reflector plates arranged in angular relation with respect thereto so as to deflect horizontal heat rays coming from campfire upon the shelf from above and from below. for uniformly heating an object disposed on the sh lf.

It is further proposed to provide means carried by the shelf for supporting the reflectors in the proper angular relation with respect thereto.

I is furt er proposed in one form of the invention to ride an arrangement by which the shelf and the reflector plates are made part of a simple U frame and may be readily collapsed into the space confined between the legs of the U frame so as to form a fiat and compact unit, pos- Sibly only one-half inch thick, that lends itself particularly well for storing and transporting purposes.

In another form of the ll ention it is proposed to use plain supportins plate adapted to be folded upon the oven plates to form a compact unit therewith.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear as the specification proceeds, and the novel features of my invention will be fully defined n the claims attached hereto.

The 1 ferred form of my invention are illustrated in accompanying drawing, in which Figure 3. shows a perspective view of my reflector oven in position and ready for use,

Figure 2, a plan view of the oven in collapsed condition,

Figure a vertical section, taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2, drawn to a larger scale,

igure a fragmentary sectional detail view illustrating the r rear portion of the oven in open position,

Figure 5, a perspective view of a modified form of the oven,

Figure 6, a plan view of the modified form in collapsed condition,

Figure 7, a vertical section taken along line l-'l of Figure 6,

Figure 8, a fragmentary detail view, in side elevation, of an upper corner of the oven in operative position, and

Figure El, a fragmentary sectional detail View illustrating the upper rear portion of the modified form in open position.

While I have shown only the preferred forms of my invention, I wish to have it understood that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the claims attached hereto without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail, my reflector oven, as shown in Figures 1 to l, comprises in its principal features a U-shaped frame 1 a shelf or central plate 2, a pair of reflector plates 3 and i and side wings 5 adapted for holding the reflector plates in properly spaced angular position with respect to the shelf 2.

The U-shaped frame may be of any suitable shape and is here shown as comprising a rod including a horizontal beam E5 and two legs '5 projecting from the ends thereof in parallel and spaced relation. The cross-member t of the rod has a plurality of clips 8 secured thereon as by welding, each clip being formed to present a tubular bearing 9 underneath the rod. It is apparent that a single long clip might be substituted for two separate clips.

The shelf 2 and the reflector plates are suspended from these bearings with freedom of swinging movement, and are suitably slotted for this purpose, as shown at iii, the slots being arranged near the rear edges of the plates, and the shelf being arranged between the two reflectors.

The reflector plates are somewhat longer than the shelf so that when the two plates are freely suspended from the bearings 9 they project beyond the shelf. But, when the three plates are swung sidewise, with the shelf in horizontal position, and the reflector plates occupying angles of approximately 45 degrees with the shelf, the forward edges of the three plates are in the same vertical plane, as is well shown. in Figure 1. The shelf 2 has fourside wings hinged to the side edges thereof by means of short sleeves ll extending through registering slots 22 in the shelf and the wings, two wings being arranged above the shelf and two wings below the same.

This arrangement makes it possible for the wings to be folded upon opposite faces of the shelf and alsoto be swung into vertical position with respect to the shelf for holding the reflector plates in the proper angular position. The outer edges of the wings are cut at angles of 45 degrees, and the reflector plates are provided with side flanges l3 against which the upper edges of the wings are adapted to lean when the oven is in open position, as shown in Figure l.

The operation of the invention will be readily understood from the foregoing description. To make the oven ready for use near the campfire, the frame i is set up in substantially vertical position and the three plates 2, 3 and 4 are swung sidewise toward the flre and are opened to cocupy the proper angular position shown in Figure 1, the wings 5 being swung upward and down-l ward into vertical position for holding the reflectors in the desired angular relation with respect to the shelf. In this position the lower edge of the lower reflector rests on the ground surface and the oven opens toward the campfire. The steal; to be broiled or the biscuits to be baked are then placed on the shelf, and the heat rays radiating horizontally from the campfire are reflected by the lower and upper reflectors to im pinge upon the shelf and the object disposed thereon.

After the cooking operation is completed the oven may be readily collapsed by folding the four wings 5 upon the upper and lower faces of the shelf and by then folding the reflectors upon the shelf, allowing the whole unit thus formed to swing within the confines of the frame. It will be readily seen that the entire operation of setting up the oven and the operation of collapsing it can be carried out in a few seconds.

The oven may be readily changed to provide a horizontal platform for keeping food and liquids in warm condition by collapsing the upper wings from the position shown in Figure l, and allowing the upper reflector to drop down upon the A shelf. In this case the lower reflector still serves its function for directing and reflecting heat rays from the fire toward the bottom face of the shelf.

The modified form of Figures 5 to 9 inclusive is built on substantially the same principle and the same numerals have been applied to corresponding parts. The main differentiating features are the following:

A plain supporting plate I is substituted for the U-frame, the plate being of a width corresponding substantially to that of the oven plates and of a height corresponding substantially to that of the shelf.

The bearings fl are secured, by means of leaves 8, upon the upper edge of the shelf 2, and the two reflector plates as Well as the supporting plate 1 are suitably slotted for suspension in the bearings.

Means are provided for locking the wings 5 in upright position. For this purpose I provide small slits IS in the front edges of the reflector plates immediately adjacent the flanges it so as to allow the extreme upper edges of the wings to engage in the slits, the outer edges id of the reflector plates being folded upon themselves and slightly bent, as shown particularly well in Figure 8 to prevent the wings from dropping downward and folding upon the central plate.

The sleeves ll, which constitute the hinges for the side wings, are secured upon the central oven plate as at ii and are preferably curved to bring their outer sections IB close to the edges of the central plate so as to prevent the wings from slipping off sidewise.

This form is still more compact thanthatshown in Figures 1 to 4 when folded since the supporting plate i lies smoothly against the other plates as shown in Figure '7 and has the further advantage that the side wings are more firmly held to the side edges of the central shelf and are locked against folding movement.

I claim:

l. A reflector oven of the character described, comprising a beam having legs at opposite ends for supporting the same in elevated horizontal position and three plates suspended from the angularly beam in parallel relation and adapted for nesting in the space between the legs, the plates being swingable into positions of desired angularity, to form an oven having a central horizontal plate and two inclined plates positioned for reflecting heat rays upon the central plate from above and below, and the central plate having side wings foldable thereon and adapted for holding the plates in position with respect to one another.

2. In a reflector even of the character described, a central rectangular plate having a rear edge and side edges, wings hinged to the side edges and folded upon opposite faces of the plate, reflector plates hinged to the rear edge of the first plate and folded upon the wings to form a compact unit with the Wings and the central plate, a U-shaped frame, and means for suspending the rear edges of the plates from the crossmember of the frame with freedom of swinging motion the wings being adapted for spacing the three plates in angular relation when the wings are unfolded.

3. In a reflector oven of the characterdescribed, a central rectangular plate having a rear edge and side edges, wings hinged to the side edges and folded upon opposite faces of the plate, reflector plates hinged to the rear edge of the first plate and folded upon the wings to form a compact unit with the wings and the central plate, a U-shaped frame, and means for suspending the rear edges of the plates from the crossmember of the frame with freedom of swinging motion, the wings having inclined edges opposite the hinges for spacing the three plates in angular relation when the wings are unfolded.

l. A reflector oven of the character described, comprising tubular suspension means, three plates suspended therefrom in adjacent relation and operable for swinging movement to form spaced upper and lower reflecting plates and a shelf plate between the same, means for securing the plates in said angular relation, and means cooperable with the suspension means for supporting the lower reflecting plate in inclined position with respect to a horizontal plane.

5. A reflector oven of the character described, comprising tubular suspension means, three plates suspended therefrom in adjacent relation and operable for swinging movement to form angularly spaced upper and lower reflecting plates and a shelf plate between the same, means for securing the plates in said angular relation, and means cooperable with the suspension means for supporting the lower reflecting plate in inclined position with respect to a horizontal plane, the latter means being swingable with respect to the suspension means for movement to a position adjacent the plates.

6. A reflector oven of the character described, comprising tubular suspension means, three plates suspended therefrom in adjacent relation and operable for swinging movement to form angularly spaced upper and lower reflecting plates and a shelf plate between the same, means for securing the plates in said angular relation, and means cooperable with the suspension means for supporting the lower reflecting plate in inclined position with respect to a horizontal plane, the latter means comprising a fourth plate hinged to the suspension means and movable to a position adjacent the plates.

'7. A reflector oven of the character described, comprising tubular suspension means, three plates suspended therefrom in adjacent relation and operable for swinging movement to form angularly spaced upper and lower reflecting plates and a shelf plate between the same, means for securing the plates in said angular relation,

and means cooperable with the suspension means for supporting the lower reflecting plate in inclined position with respect to a horizontal plane, the latter means comprising a U-shaped member fixed with respect to the suspension means and swingable with respect to the plates for movement into the plane of the plates.

8. A reflector oven of the character described, comprising tubular suspension means, three plates suspended therefrom in adjacent relation and operable for swinging movement to form angularly spaced upper and lower reflecting plates and a shelf plate between the same, wings carried by the shelf and operable for swinging movement for securing the plates in said angular relation, and means cooperable with the suspension means for supporting the lower reflecting plate in inclined position with respect to a horizontal plane.

9. A reflector oven of the character described, comprising tubular suspension means, three plates suspended therefrom in adjacent relation and operable for swinging movement to form angularly spaced upper and lower reflecting plates and a shelf plate between the same, wings carried by the shelf and operable for swinging movement for securing the plates in said angular relation, and means cooperable with the suspension means for supporting the lower reflecting plate in inclined position with respect to a horizontal plane, the shelf having sleeves mounted upon the side edges thereof in which the wings are swingably mounted.

10. A reflector oven of the character described, comprising tubular suspension means, three plates suspended therefrom in adjacent relation and operable for swinging movement to form angularly spaced upper and lower reflecting plates and a shelf plate between the same, wings carried by the shelf and operable for swinging movement for securing the plates in said angular relation, and means cooperable with the suspension means for supporting the lower reflecting plate in inclined position with respect to a horizontal plane, the shelf having sleeves mounted upon the side edges thereof in which the wings are swingably mounted, and the sleeves being curved to bring their outer sections close to the edges of the shelf so as to prevent the wings from slipping off sidewise.

11. A reflector oven of the character described, comprising tubular suspension means, three plates suspended therefrom in adjacent relation and operable for swinging movement to form angularly spaced upper and lower reflecting plates and a shelf plate between the same, wings carried by the shelf and operable for swinging movement for securing the plates in said angular relation, and means cooperable with the suspension means for supporting the lower reflecting plate in inclined position with respect to a horizontal plane, the wings and the reflector plates having cooperating means for locking the same in plate securing relation.

FRANK F. LINDSTAEDT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 34,791 Stevens et a1 Mar. 25, 1862 143,288 Lehnen Sept. 30, 1873 197,963 Clifford Dec. 11, 1877 216,003 Watson May 27, 1879 240,639 Austin Apr. 26, 1881 548,499 Ashmore Oct. 22, 1895 1,216,008 Stonebridge Feb. 13, 1917 1,404,808 Taylor Jan. 31, 1922 1,449,952 OKane Mar. 27, 1923 1,490,274 Ivey Apr. 15, 1924 2,275,942 Barry Mar. 10, 1942 2,424,665 Pope, Sr. July 29, 1947 

